16 October 2009

Empires

As I was writing my earlier post about BHO winning the Nobel, Lamya's "Empires" crept into my head. I used to listen to Lamya's debut album, Learning from Falling a lot during my first year in graduate school. It wasn't that great of an album, but for whatever reason it spoke to me and I enjoyed it. I was especially drawn to her lyrics, which I thought emanated from a true wordsmith; I'd listen to the single mix of "Black Mona Lisa" ad nauseum. (The sky above me is silent and empty/I am an island/A little freak of melancholy/But these hands/They unbead your rosary of wisdom/Bewitched, spellbound I'm found/And returned from superstition/You are my martyr/I'm a vestige of a revolution/My alma, my mater/And now I can let go)

Unfortunately, Lamya unexpectedly died of a heart attack earlier this year. She was 35, and on the verge of releasing her second album. At the very least, I am glad that we can still listen to her first album. It will always be special to me.

If you missed this jam when it was released seven years ago, give it a listen. Pay attention to the words.

"Empires"

Bring me men - bring me men to match my mountains
Bring me men - bring me men to match my plains
Men with Empires
Men with Empires in their purpose
And new - and new eras in their brains

Bring me men
Bring me men who'll turn the page
Men with vision
Visions of a new age
Who will not engage
In foreign rage and distant war
Whose policies of peace
Legends and Legacies restore

Bring me men - bring me men to match my mountains
Bring me men - bring me men to match my plains
Men with Empires
Men with Empires in their purpose
And new - and new eras in their brains

Bring me men
Bring me men that do believe
You reap as you sew
Give as you receive
Bring me not Kings
With arbitrary reign
Prepare me the way
And let my freedom sustain

Men to match my mountains
Men to match my plains
Empires in their purpose - new eras in their brains